I haven't forgotten the beloved blog.

Hi, everyone! I was so diligent posting in the beginning so now I'm getting back to it. I've been running around observing classrooms and interviewing teachers. The life of an educational researcher is a truly exciting one!

In wedding news, I met with a longtime friend and graphic designer, Lauren Westrup, who I met through one of my bridesmaids many years ago, to discuss designing our invitations and other paper goods. We have a lot in common, especially our love of design! We brainstormed all things look and feel and I think we will have a truly awesome collaboration. Here is her website if you'd like to check out her work.

http://www.laurenwestrup.com/index.html

I've also been doing some research on wedding photographers. I found Katherine O'Brien through the Knot and I think she's very talented. I really like the diversity of photo styles from each wedding and I think she makes each look unique and special. Let me know what you think!

http://katherineophoto.blogspot.com/

P.S. I like looking at photog's blogs instead of websites b/c I find them harder to navigate and share things you like w/ others.

One more thing! I know for sure with all the crafts and decor and things I imagine for our wedding, I will need a little help in that department. I saw the sweetest wedding at Mercury Hall (our venue) on the Nichols (L+J's wedding photographers) blog and it was coordinated by Lizze Belle Event Planning in Tarrytown (right down the street...woohoo!!). The wedding had a lot of fun details and I think the coordinators did an awesome job with the decor. I am definitely interested in meeting with them and discussing some day-of action. Below are the links for the wedding and the event planners.

http://thenicholsblog.com/2009/12/01/sarah-jaime-married/

http://www.lizzebelle.com/

I'm glad to be back with my blog! I missed it!

Keeping Things in Perspective

Although our wedding is over one year away, I already feel caught up in a whirlwind of planning. Venues, vendors, feel, blogs, dresses, oh my! And if you know know me, you know I have an internet addiction! So, I enjoy searching for hours on a given wedding topic or anything, really. For example, I spent at least an hour researching dog food last night. However, the pressure of all the perfect weddings and wedding details I see in blogs or in magazines gets to me. So much pressure! I needed a reality check, hence this story: Driving home from work is usually not fun. Although I'm leaving the office I still think about work, where I need to take my dog, what Matt and I need to do, etc...The other day, I was contemplating planning the wedding and all those details that bug me on my way home and was distracted by this thought--this will be a celebration of my best friend and I, our love, our relationship and everything it represents--it was the happiest I've felt about the wedding so far! Seems cliche, but the perspective was nice.

Mercury Hall for the win!

Lauren, Justin, and I investigated the Hall on Friday! It was beautiful in person and I knew it would be the perfect venue for Matt and I. Along with picking a venue, we were able to pin down the date. APRIL 9, 2011! Everyone mark your calendars! These have been our first major decisions in the wedding planning process and it's very exciting!

My first post on this great new blog of ours.

This should be a great resource for friends and family to keep up with our wedding details and ask questions, along with opportunities to check out some awesome pics. It's been a long time coming, but we're finally taking the plunge and this blog will document our voyage. Matthew Leach

Mercury Hall

This is by far my favorite venue! My main concern is fitting EVERYONE in there! The guest list is big right now (270). Lauren, my sister, and Matt's mom, Jayne, will be investigating the venue with me Friday. I'll let y'all know what happens.

P.S. Here is the link. I don't know what the legal issues surrounding pictures are, but I'll post some of my own tomorrow.

http://www.mercuryhall.com

Kickin' the new year off with a blog!

Hello friends, family, and randoms--
I've decided to start a blog in response to the latest excitement in my life, my engagement to Matthew Leach, the love of my life. Here you will find a lot of wedding planning information, as well as the latest updates on my child, Penny Lane, our five year old Brittany, and maybe a few non-wedding, non-Penny posts...maybe. Anyway, I hope everyone finds this enjoyable and not boring! Cheers!